Apparatus for forming optical aperture

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EP 1 211 694 A3

(12)	EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88)	Date of publication A3:
	02.04.2003 Bulletin 2003/14

(43)	Date of publication A2:
	05.06.2002 Bulletin 2002/23

(21)	Application number: 01310072.2

(22)	Date of filing: 30.11.2001

(51)	International Patent Classification (IPC)⁷: G12B 21/06

(84)	Designated Contracting States:
	AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE TR
	Designated Extension States:
	AL LT LV MK RO SI

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Priority:

01.12.2000 JP 2000367561
01.12.2000 JP 2000367563
05.12.2000 JP 2000370186
07.12.2000 JP 2000373308
13.12.2000 JP 2000379264
13.12.2000 JP 2000379265

(71)	Applicant: Seiko Instruments Inc.
	Chiba-shi, Chiba (JP)

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Inventors:

Oumi, Manabu, c/o Seiko Instruments Inc.
Chiba-shi, Chiba (JP)
Ichihara, Susumu, c/o Seiko Instruments Inc.
Chiba-shi, Chiba (JP)
Niwa, Takashi, c/o Seiko Instruments Inc.
Chiba-shi, Chiba (JP)
Kato, Kenji, c/o Seiko Instruments Inc.
Chiba-shi, Chiba (JP)
Shinohara, Yoko, c/o Seiko Instruments Inc.
Chiba-shi, Chiba (JP)
Maeda, Hidetaka, c/o Seiko Instruments Inc.
Chiba-shi, Chiba (JP)
Kasama, Nobuyuki, c/o Seiko Instruments Inc.
Chiba-shi, Chiba (JP)
Mitsuoka, Yasuyuki, c/o Seiko Instruments Inc.
Chiba-shi, Chiba (JP)

(74)	Representative: Kenyon, Sarah Elizabeth et al
	Miller Sturt Kenyon 9 John Street London WC1N 2ES London WC1N 2ES (GB)

(54)	Apparatus for forming optical aperture

(57) An apparatus for producing optical aperture is disclosed. A pressing body (6) has a plane covering a tip (1) and at least a part of stoppers (2). An opaque film (3) is formed on the tip. The pressing body is displaced toward the tip for forming an aperture on a point of the tip. According to the apparatus, the amount of displacement of the plate can be controlled excellently by the stopper and can be made very small. Thus, the aperture having a uniform and small size can be produced on the point of the tip easily.

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